Camping Scrapbook '02-'03

Scub Camp 2002

The fourth edition of our annual "Scub Camp" took place in September of '02, in the Whycocomagh Provincial Camping Park. This camp welcomes in the newest members to the troop, affectionately known as "Scubs". This year was no exception, as we ushered 5 scubs into Scouthood, on a one night excursion into the park. Although the complaints were loud and frequent, the leaders did have a good time. We think the Scubs did too, although, we haven't seen them since our hike on the treacherous "Scoutrail 2000"(our main fundraiser for CJ '01). We're sure they'll turn up some time.

Unfortunately, we have no pictures from this event. Oh well, maybe next year.

3rd Highland Trail "Survivor" Camp 2002

This was the new scout's first opportunity to meet with the other troops in our area. As always, the event was held in the picturesque Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The two night adventure, held in late October annually produced many fond memories. Coupled with the largest contingent of Scouts yet at the camp, and impeccable weather (yeah, right), we certainly had a great time! For this camp, the troops are separated into different tribes, in the quest to "Scoutwit, Scoutplay, and Scoutlast" the competition. This camp was, for the new scouts (who had been invested at the camp), their first experience in camp maintenance, such as dishes and site cleanup. Judging by the overall cleanliness of the dishes and campsite, we have deduced that much more work in needed in order for the newer scouts to gain proficiency in the area. This, of course, suits the leaders just fine.

Take a look at the pictures, the ones which weren't washed away, from Survivor camp.

Camp Shock'n'Awe 2003

The first ever Camp Shock'n'Awe was held this year in the wilderness of Hillsborough, Cape Breton. While the late winter thaw was in effect in other areas of the province, winter's icy grip still had the valley in its clutches. In other words, MAN IT WAS COLD!! Have you ever seen a frozen polar bear? No, I suppose not. Even with the cold temperatures, and a short hike in 3 foot deep snow (to those without snowshoes. Ha Ha, the fools.), we set up a primitive camp, consisting of tarps and tree boughs. Despite the temperature and primitive nature of the camp, we Scouts had a great time. This camp was the first experience with sub-zero camping temperatures, "Boil in a Bag" meals, and snowshoes for most of our scouts, so the first winter camp certainly had an effect on us all. In fact, when we left our site after our one night stay, I think a part of me stayed there. Pointer to others- At 40 below, licking a patch of frost on a tree has the same effect as licking a patch of frost on a metal pole.

And we have pictures!!! Ah, sorry to get your hopes up, but we don't have any pictures.

27th Annual Glace Bay District Scout-Guide May Camp 2003

This year we sent all of our scouts but one (He said he was sick. Yeah, right. Whoever heard of explosive diarrhea and vomiting?) to Camp Carter, to join in the fun. Held every year on the Victoria Day weekend, this camp brings scouts together from all over Cape Breton (and some from the mainland). This year's participation totaled nearly 300! The highlight of the 3-night camp, was "County Fair", where Scouts and Guides put on an activity pertaining to the theme. This year's theme was "At the Movies". And while we'd like to say we had a great activity, and everything planned to the most minute detail, we can't. Our activity- Guess the Movie! While spectators viewed in awe (or boredom, we don't know), a group of aspiring thespians from the troop would act out scenes from famous movies, and the audience would have to, that's right, guess the movie from which the scene was from. We had many movies, such as M*A*S*H, A Few Good Men, Titanic, Castaway, Harry Potter, Dirty Harry, and in honor of the well-performing hockey team, The Mighty Ducks. Go Charlie. The camp wide game on Saturday the 17th was a scavenger hunt which mixed in physical ability with movie knowledge. The game, which pitted patrol vs. patrol, encompassed an entire afternoon, after which the (Girls) Fox patrol, with the assistance of the Senior Scout thoroughly trounced the (Boys) Cougar Patrol. Neener.

We had pictures, but umm... umm... Yeah, sorry, no pics. Next year though, we promise!!

2nd Annual Oxford Lakes Hike/Camp

This year, we again tackled McCurdy's Mountain, in the Highlands of Cape Breton, in our annual "Long Friggin' Hike", otherwise known as the "Oxford Lakes Hike/Camp. With a roundtrip distance of approximately 25 kilometers, this is the most physically taxing event on the 1st Whycocomagh calendar. The Oxford Lakes are a system of 3 lakes, supposedly chalk-full of fish, although by recent scouts' and a leader's attempts, you wouldn't believe it. After the long hike up what seemed to be, at times, a 90-degree precipice, we finally settled in, pitching our lean-tos and making a smudge fire to keep the bleeping mosquitoes away, and then we got down to some serious fishing. Okay, not really. We sat around camp, gathering dead wood and slapping ourselves to death. The leaders, however, maliciously or not, "discovered" a canoe, and without informing us Scouts, went out to the middle of the lake to catch fish. They were skunked in that endeavor, we're happy to add. And now for the highlight of the trip- The excursion to North River Falls! North River Falls (the tallest in Nova Scotia, ahem), was just a couple of kilometers away from our site. Although an exceptionally sure-footed mountain goat would have problems on the slope of the trail down to the falls, we made it there, scarcely missing any vital body parts. The pool into which the falls drained into was deep enough, we learned last year, to do some swimming. But of course, as with all bodies of water in the highlands, the water would make a penguin waddle away in fright. Cold?!?! Cold?!?!? My friends, only the toughest of tough could tackle that water. So, of course, the leaders stayed out. We scouts however, ventured in (no pun intended). The chattering of teeth was loud, but that drowned out the screams. Maybe we should have learned something from the leaders- Chickening out is the better part of valour. After a couple of moose sightings, many "moose-meatball" sightings, and a couple of sightings of black flies the size of moose, we began the long trek home after one night. This was, for most of the Scouts, their first experience in extreme-lightweight camping, but we had a great time nonetheless.

Pictures!! Yes, actual photographs! Click on the link to see the falls.

9th Newfoundland and Labrador Jamboree 2003

Click on the link to go to our PJ '03 web page.